in this issue - Nashoba Valley Medical Center

VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 1
SPRING 2016
IN THIS ISSUE:
Causes of Pelvic Pain............................................ 2
Center for Pain Management.................................. 3
Heart Disease and Women..................................... 4
Family Medicine Physicians Caring for the Entire Family.................................... 5
Options for Treating Osteoarthritis........................... 6
Play it Safe Outdoors.............................................. 7
Strategies for Losing Weight................................... 8
Top Preventative Screenings.................................. 9
New Physicians in Our Community........................ 10
Calendar of Events............................................... 11
President’s Message............................................ 12
“Procedures for pelvic pain
in women typically include
injections of steroids
and local anesthetics
performed under X-ray
guidance. These outpatient
procedures numb the
nerves providing pain relief
to the pelvis, and can last
up to six months.”
Fred Gerges, MD
Pain Management Specialist at
Nashoba Valley Medical Center
Several Conditions Can Cause Pelvic Pain
W
hen pain occurs in the lowest part of the abdomen and
pelvis it is called pelvic pain. It can arise from the digestive,
reproductive or urinary systems, as well as muscles, connective
tissue, and nerves within the pelvis.
Pelvic pain can occur suddenly or be present for a long period of time.
The pain can be constant or intermittent, dull or sharp, mild to severe,
or present only at certain times, such as during urination or sexual
activity. It can also radiate to the lower back, buttocks or thighs, and
can be a symptom of infection.
In men and women, pelvic pain can be caused from a variety of
conditions that include appendicitis, chronic constipation, Crohn’s
disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, fibromyalgia, inguinal hernia,
intestinal obstruction, irritable bowel syndrome, interstitial cystitis,
kidney stones, prostatitis, urinary tract infections, pelvic floor muscle
spasms, past physical or sexual abuse, and colon cancer.
For women, pelvic pain can also indicate a problem with one of the
reproductive organs. Under these circumstances, pain can be from
menstrual cramps, miscarriage, ovulation, ovarian cysts and other
ovarian disorders, benign uterine fibroid tumors, ectopic pregnancy
or other pregnancy-related conditions, pelvic inflammatory disease,
endometriosis, and cervical, uterine or ovarian cancer. Other symptoms
include vaginal bleeding, vaginal spotting, vaginal discharge, painful
or difficult urination, constipation or diarrhea, bloating or gas, blood in
stools, pain during intercourse, fever or chills, and pain in the hip or
groin areas.
2
Sudden and severe pelvic pain
may be a medical emergency
that needs immediate medical
attention. Pelvic pain that is
new should be checked by a
doctor. For chronic pain, see a
doctor if it is disrupting daily life
or has gotten worse over time.
“Procedures for pelvic pain
in women typically include injections of steroids and local anesthetics
performed under X-ray guidance,” says Fred Gerges, MD, a pain
management specialist at the Center for Pain Management at Nashoba
Valley Medical Center. “These outpatient procedures numb the nerves
providing pain relief to the pelvis, and can last up to six months.”
To determine the cause of pelvic pain, your doctor will likely ask several
questions about your symptoms and past medical problems, perform a
physical exam, and may ask for tests such as blood tests, urine tests,
a pregnancy tests for women of reproductive age, cultures to check
for sexually transmitted diseases, abdominal and pelvic X-rays, a bone
density screening to determine the strength of bone, laparoscopy to see
inside the pelvis, abdomen and uterus, a stool test, a colonoscopy, an
ultrasound, or a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis.
Treatment depends on the cause, how intense the pain is and how often
it occurs. Sometimes, pelvic pain is treated with medications, including
antibiotics, and sometimes it involves procedures, including surgery.
Nashoba Valley Medical
Center’s New Center for
Pain Management
Nashoba Valley Medical Center’s (NVMC)
new Center for Pain Management employs
a team of pain management experts who
use the most modern techniques to treat
a wide range of common chronic pain
successfully. Prior to the opening of the
Center for Pain Management, patients had
to travel to NVMC’s sister hospital, Holy
Family Hospital in Methuen, to receive pain
management services.
Steven B., of Ashby, Massachusetts, is
one of those patients. Since last July, the
63-year-old was driving an hour to an hour
and a half, depending on traffic, to Holy
Family to receive treatment for his lower
back pain.
“I am thrilled to now receive my care and
treatment at Nashoba Valley Medical Center,
which is only a 15- to 20-minute drive
from my house,” says Steven. “Having the
accessibility to these services, so close to
home, is especially important for someone
experiencing chronic pain.”
NVMC’s Center for Pain Management is the only center in the region to provide
services to diagnose and treat chronic pain conditions. Common chronic pain problems
our pain experts treat include:
•Arthritis
•Osteoporosis
In addition to receiving the same
treatments at the NVMC’s Center for Pain
Management, Steven is also being overseen
by the same team of doctors who oversaw
his care at Holy Family.
• Back pain
•Polymyalgia
• Cancer-related pain
• Post-operative pain
• Chronic neck pain
• Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD)
• Diabetes-related pain
•Sciatica
“It’s very reassuring that I have my same
doctors taking care of me,” he says.
“Nashoba is a great hospital and this new
center is a great asset to the community.”
•Fibromyalgia
• Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
• Intercostal neuralgia
• Stress-related pain
• Ischemic-related pain
•TMJ
• Myofascial pain
• Neurogenic pain
For more information about NVMC’s Center for
Pain Management, please call 866-698-7533.
“Having the accessibility to these
services, so close to home, is
especially important for someone
experiencing chronic pain.”
3
Why Women Must Listen to their Hearts
A
ccording to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, heart disease
is the number one killer of women
causing more deaths than all kinds of
cancer combined, and increases in risk
after menopause. Many women mistakenly
think the only symptom of a heart attack
is crushing chest pain and, unfortunately,
don’t recognize the other, sometimes
subtle, symptoms.
“Women may experience the classic symptoms
of a heart attack, just as many men do. But
females may also experience more varied
symptoms, with no accompanying chest
pain,” says Nashoba Valley Medical Center
Cardiologist Daniela Capriles, MD. “This means
that a woman who is having a heart attack
might blame stomach issues, arthritis or other
minor conditions, and not get the immediate
help she needs.”
How Men and Women Differ
When it comes to heart attack symptoms,
men and women share several similarities.
Similarities in symptoms include:
• Discomfort or pain in the center of
the chest – many times, it feels like
pressure or squeezing that may last a
long time, or go away and come back
• Discomfort or pain in the jaw, arms,
back, neck, or stomach
• Shortness of breath with or without
chest pain
• Cold sweat
• Nausea or vomiting
•Lightheadedness
Regarding women, the symptoms that
may seem confusing and not so obvious
may include:
• Extreme fatigue, which may occur
days or weeks in advance
• Pressure or pain in the lower chest,
upper abdomen, or upper back
• Lightheadedness, which may lead
to fainting
If you’re a woman, paying attention to the
subtle warnings can make a significant
difference. Remember that some of these
symptoms can occur over hours, days, or
weeks. If you feel these symptoms, don’t wait
more than five minutes to call 911. Even if
you have a friend or relative with you, call for
medical help rather than drive. If necessary,
paramedics can start life-saving treatment on
the way to the emergency room. This early
care can determine how well you recover.
Be Prepared and Know Your Risks
Knowing your risk factors can help you make
smart health choices that may prevent a
heart attack, and may help you be more
prepared in the event that an attack occurs.
Some risk factors for both women and men
are uncontrollable, including a family history
of heart disease, increasing age, race or
ethnicity, and a previous heart attack. Other
risk factors can be controlled by adopting
healthy habits and, when necessary, the
use of medication or medical procedures.
Controllable risk factors are smoking (or
exposure to secondhand smoke), high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, being overweight/
obese, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity,
diabetes, stress, and drinking too much
alcohol. Other risk factors specific to women
include being at a younger age at menopause,
using hormonal replacement therapy (HRT),
and the use of birth control pills, especially in
heavy smokers.
Your doctor can help you protect and improve
your heart health. Talk with your doctor about
the best course of action for you.
To learn more about Nashoba Valley Medical
Center’s cardiovascular medicine services,
visit www.nashobamed.org/Cardiac-Vascular.
*Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/women/lcod/index.htm
*Source: American Heart Association, www.heart.org
*Source: National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease,
www.womenheart.org
4
Family Medicine Physicians Care for the Entire Family
Family medicine is a
dedicated medical
specialty that requires
three years of postmedical school training
and prepares physicians
to provide primary care
services for the entire
family, from pre-natal
care to care for children,
parents, and grandparents.
C
hoosing your primary care physician can
sometimes boil down to a recommendation
from a family member, friend or coworker,
the doctor’s proximity to home or work, or his
or her focus on a particular area of health.
Fortunately, in the Nashoba Valley region, there
are many options for primary care medicine,
including family medicine.
obstetrics, gynecology, orthopaedics, surgery and
psychiatry, which is not included in most of the
other primary care specialties.
“Family medicine has varying degrees of
adoption throughout the United States and the
world. In less populated regions, family medicine
is the cornerstone of a community’s health,” says
Tisha Dickey, DO, a family medicine physician at
Nashoba Family Medicine. “Within our region,
with so many excellent medical professionals,
family medicine is an option for whole family
care that many families are turning to use.”
Family medicine physicians are accredited by
the American Board of Family Medicine and
can provide a full range of medical services,
including:
• Annual physical exam and wellness checkup
• Minor procedures
• Cancer screening
• Family planning
• Pre-natal care for pregnant women
• Infant and child care, including school and
sports physicals
• Concussion testing
What Makes Family Medicine Different
from Primary Care Medicine?
Family medicine is a dedicated medical
specialty that requires three years of postmedical school training and prepares physicians
to provide primary care services for the entire
family, from pre-natal care to care for children,
parents, and grandparents. Family medicine
also includes broader training in areas such as
“As family medicine physicians, we focus on
building long-term relationships with patients,
young and old,” says Dr. Dickey. “We also use
preventative medicine to help patients stay
healthy and adopt healthy lifestyle choices.”
In addition, family medicine physicians can
oversee the management of chronic illnesses such
as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease,
high cholesterol, skin diseases, joint problems,
obesity, asthma and respiratory conditions,
depression, and women’s health issues.
STEWARD FAMILY MEDICINE
AND PRIMARY CARE PRACTICES
There are several Steward Medical
Group practices affiliated with Nashoba
Valley Medical Center that offer family
medicine or primary care services in
the region, including a new practice in
Bolton at 146 Hudson Road. Primary
Care Physicians Sapna Aggarwal, MD,
and Prativa Basnet, MD, are accepting
new adult patients at Bolton Primary
Care. To schedule an appointment,
please call 978-391-5054.
Lunenburg Family Practice recently
relocated to a new expanded facility
at 324 Massachusetts Avenue in
Lunenburg. Doctors Timothy Eddy, DO,
Deepthi Pandraju, MD, and Archana
Shah, MD, and nurse practitioner
Ann Marie Sabatino, are accepting
new patients of all ages. Please
call 978-582-4587 to schedule an
appointment.
STEWARD PRIMARY CARE
LOCATIONS:
• Bolton Primary Care
146 Hudson Road, Bolton;
978-582-4587
• Groton Internal Medicine
497 Main Street, Groton;
978-449-0471
STEWARD FAMILY MEDICINE
LOCATIONS:
• Lunenburg Family Practice
324 Massachusetts Avenue,
Lunenburg; 978-582-4587
• Nashoba Family Medicine
1 Forge Village Road, Suite C,
Groton; 978-449-0282
• Townsend Family Medicine
18 Main Street, Suite 104,
Townsend; 978-597-9091
5
Surgical and Medical Procedures for Osteoarthritis
“Osteoarthritis usually affects
the hands, feet, spine, hips,
or knees. The symptoms of
osteoarthritis usually appear
in middle age, but almost
everyone has some symptoms
of osteoarthritis by the time
they are 70 years old.”
Stephen Simpson, MD
Orthopaedic Surgeon at
Nashoba Valley Medical Center
Orthopaedic Specialists
at Your Service
If you are experiencing joint pain or
discomfort, the orthopaedic specialists at
Nashoba Valley Medical Center can help
determine the cause of your pain and design
a comprehensive treatment plan specific to
your individual needs. For more information
about our orthopaedic services, visit
www.nashobamed.org/service-directory/
orthopedics.
A
s we age, it is inevitable that so will our
bodies – especially our joints, which
undergo significant wear and tear over
the years. The most common degenerative
joint disorder affecting middle-aged to
elderly men and women is osteoarthritis,
which is characterized by the breakdown
and eventual loss of joint cartilage. Although
there are many causes, osteoarthritis is most
commonly the result of normal aging and can
cause significant pain and disability.
“Osteoarthritis usually affects the hands,
feet, spine, hips, or knees,” explains Nashoba
Valley Medical Center Orthopaedic Surgeon
Stephen Simpson, MD. “The symptoms of
osteoarthritis usually appear in middle age,
but almost everyone has some symptoms of
osteoarthritis, ranging from minor to severe,
by the time they are 70 years old.”
6
Common symptoms include:
• Mild to severe pain in a joint, especially
after overuse or long periods of inactivity,
such as sitting for a long time
• Creaking or grating sound in the joint
• Swelling, stiffness, limited movement of the
joint, especially in the morning
• Deformity of the joint
“Some minor to moderate cases of osteoarthritis
can be treated through lifestyle modifications
such as weight loss, local measures heat/ice,
low impact strengthening, flexibility program
and bracing to reduce stress on your joints,”
says Paul Harasimowicz, MD, an orthopaedic
surgeon at Nashoba Valley Medical Center.
“Additional measures include various over-thecounter remedies, pain medications, injections
and physical therapy. Patients whose pain is not
responding to the above interventions are often
prime candidates for surgery.”
If medications and other comfort measures
are ineffective in reducing the joint pain and
inflammation associated with osteoarthritis, a
surgical procedure may be recommended to
repair, rebuild, or replace damaged joints.
For some patients whose osteoarthritis is at an
advanced stage, they may be a candidate for a
joint replacement procedure.
If you are experiencing some of the symptoms
of osteoarthritis, talk to you doctor to discuss
what course of treatment may be best for you.
Play It Safe Outdoors
As we begin to emerge from winter hibernation and the warm weather
arrives, everyone is itching to get outside. Here are some tips to help you
and your family enjoy the outdoors to the fullest by staying one step ahead.
Bike Safety
Playground Safety
After the bike has been dusted off and before
pedaling off, make sure to:
Each year, more than 200,000 children go to
U.S. hospital emergency rooms with injuries
associated with playground equipment. Most
injuries occur when a child falls from the
equipment onto the ground. • Protect your head and always wear a
helmet that fits properly.
• Check the bike to ensure the brakes are
working. Also, the tires should be fully
inflated.
• Adjust the bike seat to the proper height.
And, follow these bike safety tips once on the road:
• Use the proper hand signals for left turn,
right turn and stopping.
• Always check for traffic before entering a
street or intersection.
• Obey the rules of the road. Bicycles are
considered vehicles and must obey the
same rules as motorists.
• Don’t wear headphones while riding as
they will block traffic sounds.
Sun safety
As we head outside, it’s time to apply
sunscreen. Whether it’s sunny or cloudy, UV
rays can damage skin. Remember to apply
sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes
before heading outside. This not only helps
prevent an uncomfortable sunburn today,
but also protects against skin cancer in the
future. Also, wear a hat and sunglasses, and
reapply sunscreen every two hours.
Use this simple checklist to help make sure
your local community or school playground
is a safe place to play.
• Make sure surfaces around playground
equipment have at least 12 inches of
wood chips, mulch, sand, or pea gravel,
or are mats made of safety-tested rubber
or rubber-like materials.
• Check that protective surfacing extends
at least 6 feet in all directions from play
equipment. For swings, be sure surfacing
extends, in back and front, twice the
height of the suspending bar.
• Make sure play structures more than
30 inches high are spaced at least 9
feet apart.
• Check for dangerous hardware, like open
“S” hooks or protruding bolt ends. • Look out for tripping hazards, like
exposed concrete footings, tree stumps
and rocks.
• Make sure elevated surfaces, like
platforms and ramps, have guardrails to
prevent falls.
• Carefully supervise children on
playgrounds to make sure they’re safe.
“A head injury from a fall off a bike or
playground equipment is a real problem and
concussions are an epidemic problem in the
United States,” says Gabriel Simon, MD, chief
of Emergency Medicine at Nashoba Valley
Medical Center. “Overall, it is better to prevent
than to treat head injuries so wear a helmet
and take an extra few minutes to check over
the playground equipment.”
*Source: United States Consumer Product Safety Commission,
www.cpsc.gov
*EBSCO Publishing
Here if You Need Us 24/7
With the Shortest ER Wait Times in the Region
Many of the activities that make springtime great
can also result in accidents and illness. Fortunately,
Nashoba Valley Medical Center’s (NVMC) emergency
department team of board-certified emergency
medicine physicians and nurses are available 24
hours a day, seven days a week, to treat patients
of all ages with emergency care should it become
necessary.
NVMC’s emergency department offers:
• 13 treatment areas, each equipped with
computer work stations and advanced
monitoring systems
• On-site diagnostic testing, including a clinical
laboratory and a state-of-the-art imaging
department with X-ray, ultrasound, and
magnetic resonance imaging
• CT scanner that utilizes iDose technology,
enabling technicians to adjust the radiation
based on a patient’s body mass index, allowing
for clarity of image but also reducing the
radiation exposure for the patient
• A primary stroke service provider and round-theclock cardiac care
If you need emergency care, call 911 immediately. 7
Achieving and Maintaining
a Healthful Weight
S
pringtime is approaching and you may be thinking it’s time to lose some weight that
you may have gained during the winter months when you were less active. But, how
will you lose the weight? You may have heard that losing weight is as easy as eating
less and exercising more. It is true that taking in fewer calories than you use each day is
the simplest way to lose weight. Never mind the fad diets, weight-loss pills, and herbal
remedies – it all comes down to a balanced diet and a regular exercise program.
Taking the First Step
The first step toward weight loss is determining
how much weight you need to lose to achieve
optimal health benefits. A good measure to
determine this is by calculating your Body
Mass Index (BMI), a standardized method used
by health professionals to evaluate weight and
body fat.
BMI is calculated by using your weight and
height. It helps give you an indication of
whether you are at risk of health problems that
are related to being overweight or obese. If your
BMI is 25 or higher, you are at risk for a number
of serious health problems, including high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, stroke,
type 2 diabetes, pregnancy-related disorders
and osteoarthritis.
“Many of my overweight patients may also be
dealing with endocrine problems, orthopaedic
problems, diabetes, arthritis, or sleep apnea,”
says Theresa Piotrowski, MD, a bariatric
physician at the Center for Weight Control
at Nashoba Valley Medical Center. “Weight
loss can significantly improve many of these
conditions.”
If you want to know your BMI, the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention website, www.
cdc.gov, is equipped with BMI calculators.
Strategies to Get Started
Getting started is often the most difficult part
of losing weight. Any changes you make in your
eating and exercising behaviors must become
habitual, which takes time.
The following five strategies are important to
successful weight loss and can help to overcome
some of these barriers:
• Set and commit to realistic goals and
monitor your progress toward achieving
these goals
• Slowly modify your eating and exercise
behaviors, as well as habits influencing both
• Examine and restructure unrealistic,
negative thoughts, or expectations
• Reduce stress
• Develop a network of social support and
information
These lifestyle changes don’t happen overnight.
They might take weeks, or months to include
into your everyday routine. But, the sooner you
begin working toward your ideal weight, the
sooner you can reap the healthful benefits.
*Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov
8
*Source: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, www.eatright.org
Other Ways to Help Lose Weight
Nashoba Valley Medical Center’s
Bariatric Program Can Help
If after you’ve tried changing your diet and
increasing your physical activity, and aren’t
having any luck with losing weight and
improving any health conditions, a medical
bariatric program may be an option for you
to consider.
Medical bariatric programs help patients
lose weight without using surgical
interventions. The focus is on treating
obesity, which truly effects every part of
the body, and by treating the obesity the
other co morbidities a patient may be
experiencing are then also treated.
The new medical bariatrician services
offered at Nashoba Valley Medical Center
provide patients with a three-prong
multidisciplinary approach, which include:
A nutrition analysis. A bariatric physician
analyzes what a person eats and reviews
how many calories they should be taking
in, along with teaching them about what
types of foods they should and shouldn’t be
eating and how to control portion sizes.
Behavioral therapy. The next step, the
biggest aspect of the program, is treating
the behavioral reason why a patient is
eating. Through behavioral therapy, the
bariatric physician has a patient take
a step back and review their behaviors
in order to help them recognize their
behaviors and then develop a plan to help
change these behaviors. On average, it
may can take three months to recognize a
behavior and up to a year to change.
“The behavioral therapy component gives
my patients control over the food instead
of the food having control over them,”
explains Dr. Piotrowski. “This gives them
a sense of empowerment. We also discuss
healthy habits they can adopt instead of
turning to food.”
Exercise program. Patients work with an
ACE-certified personal trainer to develop
individually tailored exercise plans.
To learn more Nashoba Valley Medical
Center’s medical bariatrician services,
visit www.nashobamed.org.
The Top Preventive Health Screenings for Men and Women
H
aving regular check-ups and getting preventive
screening tests are important steps that you can
do to keep your health in tip-top shape. Preventive
screenings are tests that look for diseases before you
have symptoms. Screening tests can provide critical
information to help prevent serious medical problems and
find diseases early, when they’re easier to treat.
“Most preventative screening tests can be done in your
primary care doctor’s office,” says Timothy Eddy, DO,
a primary care physician at Lunenburg Family Practice.
“Some preventative screening tests require imaging,
like mammograms, and will need to be done in a
radiology department such as the one at Nashoba
Valley Medical Center.”
The following recommen-dations are general guidelines
for screening procedures for healthy men and women.
Since some men and women may need screenings at
more frequent intervals due to family history or increased
risk factors for certain diseases, consult your doctor for
personalized advice.
According to www.healthcare.gov, most health plans
must cover these preventive screenings at no cost to you
because of the Affordable Care Act. This includes private
insurance plans. They are covered without charging you
a copayment or coinsurance and this is true even if you
haven’t met your yearly deductible. But, this applies
only when these services are delivered by an in-network
provider and there may be guidelines such as if you
have increased risk factors as to when the screenings
are covered. It is always a good idea to check with your
insurance plan to confirm which tests are covered and if
you need a referral from your primary care doctor.
9
Nashoba Valley Medical Center Welcomes
New Physicians and Specialists to Our Community
Tisha Dickey, DO
Family Medicine
Sapna Aggarwal, MD
Internal Medicine
Office Location:
Nashoba Family
Medicine, 1 Forge
Village Road in
Groton
Board Certified:
American
Osteopathic Board
of Family Physicians
Areas of Special
Interest: Women’s
health, geriatrics
and osteopathic
manipulative
medicine
Daniela Capriles, MD
Cardiovascular Medicine Echocardiography
Office Location:
Nashoba Cardiology,
190 Groton Road,
Suite 110 in Ayer
Board Certified:
Internal Medicine
Board Eligible:
Cardiovascular
Medicine,
Echocardiography
Areas of Special
Interest: Heart
failure, valvular
heart disease, heart
arrhythmias and
peripheral vascular
disease
Languages: Spanish,
French and
Portuguese
10
Timothy Eddy, DO
Family Medicine
Office Location:
Bolton Primary Care,
146 Hudson Road in
Bolton
Board Certified:
American Board of
Internal Medicine
Areas of Special
Interest: Women’s
health and preventative medicine
Languages: Hindi
Frederic J. Gerges, MD
Pain Management
Office Location:
Lunenburg Family
Practice, 324
Massachusetts Ave.,
in Lunenburg
Board Certified:
American Board of
Family Medicine
Areas of Special
Interest: Type 2
diabetes, ADHD and
smoking cessation
Cecilia Larson, MD
Diabetes and Endocrine
Office Location:
Nashoba Valley
Medical Center,
200 Groton Road
in Ayer
Board Certified:
Anesthesiology
Areas of Special
Interest: Pain
Management
Languages: Arabic,
English and French
Office Location:
Nashoba Valley
Medical Center,
200 Groton Road
in Ayer
Board Certified:
Internal Medicine
Areas of Special
Interest: Diabetes
and endocrine
All of the physicians are now accepting patients.
Please call DoctorFinder™ at 978-784-9990 for
more information and to schedule an appointment.
Nashoba’s Calendar of Upcoming Events
INSULIN PUMP SUPPORT GROUP
The Insulin Pump Support Group is held on
the second Wednesday of each month, and
morning and evening sessions are offered. Our
monthly support groups provide support and
education to adults with diabetes. Come share
the joys and frustrations you may be having with
insulin pump therapy, meet others living with
diabetes and learn how to improve your diabetes
management.
CENTER FOR WEIGHT CONTROL
OPTIFAST® FREE INFO SESSION
The Center for Weight Control invites you to
a FREE information session to learn about the
benefits of OPTIFAST®, a medically monitored
weight loss program where the typical patient
loses over 50 pounds in just 18 to 24 weeks.
Wednesday, April 6 from noon–1 p.m.
Wednesday, May 4 from 4:30–5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 1 from noon–1 p.m.
Sessions are held at Nashoba Valley Medical
Center, Conference Room 109, 200 Groton
Road in Ayer. For more information or to RSVP,
please contact Sara Schwarz at NVMC.Optifast@
steward.org or call 978-784-9313. ADULT BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP
DROP IN SESSIONS
Dealing with the loss of a loved one is often the
most challenging task one can face in a lifetime.
This support group, held on the second Tuesday
of every month, is open to all adults who are
experiencing loss due to the death of
a loved one.
Tuesday, April 12 from 6–7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 10 from 6–7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, June 14 from 6–7:30 p.m.
Registration is not required and there is no fee
to attend. The group meets at Nashoba Valley
Medical Center, Conference Room 1, 200 Groton
Road in Ayer. For more information, contact
Karen Campbell at 800-698-3307, ext. 320.
Wednesday, April 13 from
10:30-11:30 a.m. or 6–7 p.m.
Wednesday, May 11 from
10:30-11:30 a.m. or 6–7 p.m.
Get Ahead of the
Game by Having a
Colonoscopy
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness
Month and did you know that having
a colonoscopy is the most effective
screening tool for preventing colorectal
cancer? During a colonoscopy, the
entire colon is screened for cancer, and
any detected polyps can be removed
for testing. Removing the polyps is a
preventative measure as there is the risk
they could become cancerous.
Wednesday, June 8 from
10:30-11:30 a.m. or 6–7 p.m.
The Insulin Pump Support Group sessions
are held at Nashoba Valley Medical Center,
Conference Room 109, 200 Groton Road
in Ayer. For more information or to RSVP,
call 978-784-9452.
AA (ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS)
SUPPORT GROUP
Meetings are on Saturdays from 7-9 p.m.,
in Conference Room B at Nashoba Valley
Medical Center, 200 Groton Road in Ayer.
For more information, call Donna Horvac at
978-449-0497.
Join the Conversation!
Like Nashoba Valley Medical Center’s page
on Facebook to receive instant updates on
events happening in the community, wellness
information and hospital services. Find us at
www.facebook.com/NVMedicalCenter.
Nashoba Valley Medical Center’s primary
care physicians (PCP) are accepting new
patients and can help with scheduling
preventive screenings. Also, they
can provide a same day appointment
for sudden illness. To schedule an
appointment with one of our PCPs, call
the Steward DoctorFinder™ at
978-784-9990.
*Source: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force,
www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org
*Source: National Institutes of Health,
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthscreening.html
*Source: American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org
*Source: Office of Women’s Health,
U.S Department of Health and Human Services, www.
womenshealth.gov
*Source: www.healthcare.gov
11
A Message from the President
Dear Neighbor,
We’ve been very busy at
Nashoba Valley Medical Center
(NVMC) since we said goodbye
to 2015 and greeted a new
year. From investing in some of
the most advanced technology
available, to welcoming new
primary care physicians
and enhancing our clinical
services, NVMC is an exciting
place to be as we strive to
meet the evolving health care
needs of our patients.
Hunger Run Raises $8,000 for
Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry
N
ashoba Valley Medical Center donated $8,000 to
Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry, Inc. The generous
donation was a result of proceeds from the
hospital’s annual 5K Hunger Run road race, which was
held on October 17, 2015 and attracted more than
250 participants.
Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry is a non-profit
organization that provides food and temporary support
services to residents of Ayer, Devens, Groton, Harvard,
Littleton, and Shirley. The organization also advocates
for changes that will promote independence and selfreliance for its clients.
Over the last several months, NVMC and Steward Medical Group expanded primary
care services throughout the Nashoba Valley region. In January, Bolton Primary Care
opened its doors at 146 Hudson Road in Bolton, and Lunenburg Family Practice
moved into a new expanded location at 324 Massachusetts Avenue in Lunenburg.
We also welcomed several new primary care physicians and family medicine
physicians to our medical staff. The new practice and expanded location, along with
the expert medical staff, is testament to our ongoing commitment to provide our
patients with some of the best primary and preventative health care services in the
region.
At NVMC, exploring additional ways to enhance our clinical services continues to
be among our top priorities. Recently, we opened a comprehensive Center for Pain
Management, which gives patients living with chronic pain conditions access to
highly successful treatments, close to home. We also added a medical bariatric
program to help patients with the challenges associated with long-term weight loss
and weight management. We’ve expanded our diabetes and endocrinology program,
as well as our nephrology services and now offer inpatient care. In addition, we are
expanding The Garvin Center for Geriatric Psychiatry to meet the growing demand
for these services in our community.
(L-R) Salvatore Perla, President of Nashoba Valley Medical Center;
Patricia Stern, Executive Director of Loaves & Fishes; and Gary
Donia, Physical Therapist and Hunger Run Race Director.
SAVE THE DATE
Nashoba Valley Medical Center’s
It is truly our privilege to care for you and have you entrust your care to us.
Keeping you healthy is, and always will be, our highest priority.
2016 Hunger Run 5K
Sincerely,
Activities, food and fun for the whole family. For more
information or to register, visit www.active.com
to Benefit Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry
Saturday, October 15, 2016
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Salvatore Perla
President
Nashoba Valley Medical Center
200 Groton Road, Ayer, MA
12